Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill 2024. In commencing my comments to the chamber, can I just say that the Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, has once again led the way on a crucial issue of national security and social cohesion. Last night, in the Federation Chamber, the Albanese Labor government caved in to Mr Dutton's demands for strong, mandatory penalties and new offences for antisemitic attacks. The Albanese Labor government were forced into the position of introducing amendments to their own legislation to follow Mr Dutton's strong lead. They have also supported, I am pleased, coalition amendments to further strengthen their hate crimes bill. Only on 3 February—as recently as that—did we have Minister Murray Watt confirming that federal Labor would not be introducing mandatory minimum sentences for acts of Commonwealth terrorism. And yet here today in the Senate we will pass the legislation that Peter Dutton had raised with the Australian people.

The hate crimes legislation is about ensuring that those who advocate force or violence against a group of people are held accountable for their actions. The parliament needs to make it clear that you cannot call on others to commit violence against a group of people. The overwhelming majority of Australians agree that those using force or violence against anyone, and those who incite others to use force or violence, should be held to account.

The legislation is considered and it is targeted. It is not about policing what people say on social media or suppressing debate in the community about a range of issues. It is about ensuring that those who commit or advocate violence are punished.

The actions we saw at the Opera House on 9 October 2023, where an angry mob chanted antisemitic threats, just two days after the massacre of 1,200 Jewish people in southern Israel by the terrorist group Hamas, should never be repeated. That day, 9 October 2023, should have been the day that Australia stood behind Israel, when the Sydney Opera House, a most famous landmark, was lit up in solidarity with the people of Israel. Instead, it will forever be a day of shame for our nation because a violent mob were able to keep Jewish Australians away from the very landmark that was lit up in solidarity with them.

The legislation is an important step in combating the antisemitism crisis that we have in Australia today. As I have said, the coalition has secured some very significant amendments to this legislation, and we are pleased that the government has agreed to them.

The final piece of legislation before the Senate today is as a result of the strong leadership of Peter Dutton. Thanks to the work of the coalition standing up to the antisemitic crisis across Australia, the Labor Party have finally agreed to some strong measures to ensure those in our community who are committing terrorism offences are punished appropriately. Peter Dutton has once again led the way on a crucial issue of national security and social cohesion.

As I have stated, the coalition has been calling for strong action in four key areas, the first being mandatory minimum sentences of six years jail for terrorism offences. I would have thought the Australian people would be surprised to know that there was not a minimum mandatory sentence if you were found guilty of committing an act of terrorism in this country. We also advocated for tougher action on prohibited Nazi and terrorist organisation symbols and related behaviour, increasing the maximum penalty to five years, with a mandatory minimum jail time of 12 months. We also advocated for a decisive response to attacks on places of worship through new offences for those who advocate or threaten such attacks, and targeted action for religiously motivated property damage that advocates violence against groups with a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 months imprisonment and a maximum of five years imprisonment.

I am pleased to advise the Senate and the Australian people that all of these outcomes will be achieved through the amended hate crimes legislation. Since 7 October 2023, the antisemitic crisis in Australia has reached a point where we have seen the terrorist firebombing of a synagogue and the shocking attempt to carry out what could potentially have been a mass casualty attack. Peter Dutton, every single step of the way, has stood with the Australian people, has stood for national security, has stood with the people in the Jewish community, and has led the fight against domestic antisemitism from day one. I cannot say the same for our Prime Minister.

What we are debating today is the strong action that was, quite frankly, needed months ago. We called for it months ago; we have been advocating for it. The Labor Party have been dragged kicking and screaming, but it will go through today. As I said, the amendments we have secured are critical—a mandatory minimum sentence of six years for terrorism offences. We want to stand up to those who do harm to our nation. We don't care about the ideology of the terrorist group; anyone involved in these organisations should be aware: if you commit an offence you will face a mandatory jail time.

Another important aspect of the legislation that was secured by Peter Dutton—